BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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I actually don't know why some overfill and some don't. I don't have much droop at all and yet was overfilled quite a bit. If anyone can get an answer from a PS, do share!
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My PS likes to over fill. I was told I was getting about 60cc each expansion. Not sure what he put in to start but I had 10 expansions! My implants are 397cc. Wonder if the rest was filled with fat? I know he put some in the lower pole. Maybe he keeps the upper pole of the pocket open and therefore the implant doesn't fill the pocket completely. My massaging has me pushing my implants over and up into the upper pole.
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Yeah! I got a referral for a second opinion for up coming reconstruction.
Whippetmom, I've heard nothing but the best about de Greef. He did part of my mastectomy when the gen surgeon got tired, then proceeded to immediate recon. He is awsome to talk to and has made me feel great. (His voice is south africana nd very dreamy! and he very good looking too).
I just want to feel fully informed of all my choices. de Greef is swaying me away from the flap procedure for some reason, and i don't just want to "go with what I'm told". I've been an advocate for too many years to just say "yes sir what ever you think sir". Even if I go with his suggestions, I'm glad about the second opinion.
Part of me just wants the insert of the TE and then the exchange. Recovering from a FLAP...I might leave that for down the line.
I just got hired for a permenant job. I've worked casual for the last 2 years, minus the time off to have cancer. My boss is has offered me this job with knowing that I have some surgeries ahead of me. part of my choice as how to go forward is also about not taking much time off work now that I'm permenant.
You guys have NO idea how much this job means to me. Benefits, pension...sick time...holidays...
I'm a happy girl today.
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PitPat: Congratulations on the job!!!
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EMPLOYMENT FOR PITPAT!!!! happy dance0
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whippetmom.............
I have sent you a PM w/ info requested.
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pitpat - congratulations on the FT job! Great news!
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RedSky- my ps is very cautious but he went with what was the best fit- considering the condition of my skin and I assume what he found when he got in there. He had a range of 450 500 and 550 (we had discussed these in regards to me landing up with a 36C range-which is exactly where I have settled in after the swelling and healing has occured. I have two bras that are 36 D and they fit because of their design but I tried on some others this weekend and I can see where the C is perfect. The PS did not want to stretch me too tight and have the skin compromised- my fills were usually small and frequent between the BMX and exchange and took me to the exact fill point of the TEs 450. He was really particular about wanting a slight natural ptosis- the fold under the breast-created with alloderm sling, placement of TEs and then of course, the implants and I must say, I have one= not droopy at all just kind of a boobish look:)
I think it all depends on the PS and our indivudual bodies. Like most anything.
Yeah PitPat for the new job!
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Pitpat congrats on the new job. I think unemployment must be going down I am hearing good things. I got a job as weight watcher leader starts in August though.
Lago that video is toooooo funny! My husband love Shanana ! Love those outfits lol.
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Pitpat- congratulations on the job. It sounds like a good one!
Annetek- I like the sound of your PS- especially that'small and frequent fills' part! I wonder if he will move to VA!
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Glad I found this forum. Will take measurements tomorrow. Have had 3 saline injections and feel that is enough. Told the PS that since I am going through this, I want a reduction as it gets hot and sweaty under the girls here in FL. Will as PS the questions when I see her in July. Will have 2nd phase of reconstruction in September (due to hubby's work schedule). Thanks for all the good information.
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Corinne: As long as you are expanding properly and your skin maintains good integrity, it should be no problem at all exchanging out to an implant with a volume of 450 ccs or 475 ccs. I had the same style and volume TE - 400 ccs - and my implants are 550 ccs - HP smooth silicone rounds.
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PitPat.....Happy dancing indeed! Congratulations and well done!
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Posted this before, most recently last month....
Overfilling: Some do and some do not overfill. Overfilling is sometimes needed in order to stretch out taut skin so that a bit larger implant can be used, when the PS wants to insure he is going to have good skin coverage over the future implant, in order to get a little natural droop or ptosis. The skin does retract when the TEs are removed and so this is just a little extra assurance in some cases.
But primarily, a PS will overfill in order to create ptosis - a natural droop. Overfilling for ptosis is not needed in every case. It was not needed in my case.
Hope this answers some questions....
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TISSUE EXPANDER VS. IMPLANT VOLUME
The tissue expander is placed, based predominantly upon the patient's chest wall dimensions and native breast base width. The TE width is the plastic surgeon's initial concern - projection is ancillary. The plan will be to utilize an implant with the same [or greater] width as the tissue expander.
So let's take this example:
Tissue Expander: Allergan 133 MV - 400 cc...........
Dimensions: 13.0 cm width and 5.6 cm projection
Silicone Implant: Allergan Style 20 - 500 ccs
Dimensions: 13.0 cm width and 5.2 cm projection
Now if the PS intends to use a smaller implant - and in some cases, this is necessary:
For a midrange profile implant:
Allergan Style 15
Dimensions: 13.1 cm width and 4.2 cm projection
But the majority of plastic surgeons DO seem to use the high profile style implant in breast reconstruction cases.
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Here is the Allergan Natrelle catalogue...
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My PS over fills for ptosis. I'm sure I needed it in my case. My old boobs didn't have any ptosis because I was so small and perky.
He also fills slowly so that's why it was only around 60cc every week. 10 expansions all together. First 3 before chemo. 0 -
Lago -- my PS also overfilled and filled slowly after the first few fills.
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Hi Ladies - My PS only filled probably 3 times(I never asked any questions), I wish I knew then what I know now. I have a lengthy list for him now with questions. I also wonder why he used a mid range profile implant not a high profile one, eventhough I read on this forum that some ladies with almost the same measurements as I with high profile implants.
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Psal70: About the mid range profile it is possible he was trying to match your other breast. Since you had a lift without an implant it is more challenging to match. About the fills that sounds kind of low maybe he was able to fill big amounts at once. Were you in much pain after fills?0
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Islandmom honestly I was never in pain not even after I woke up from the MX, he always used 2 huge syringes and my expander was already half of my normal size right after surgery, so maybe that's why I did not get many fills.
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Getting closer......went for an expansion yesterday and posted some pix on the picture forum.
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Psal -- I'm sure that's it! You probably started with a lot of cc's to begin with. How much you start with depends on a lot of things, not least of which is how much skin remains after the MX (even with skin-sparing it can vary).
Tina -- your pics will be my next stop!
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Psal70 I have Allergen Natrelle style 15 midrange profile implants. I'm plenty big with projection. I went from a A/B to a C. He said large B small C but I think I have full C's. I do have a smaller frame but I'm not short (5' 6") I would not want to be any larger! I had the BMX so it wasn't that he was trying to match anything other than what my body type was like. Check out my images on the picture forum.
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Lilah - they were able to spare much of my skin after the MX/
Lago- I will check the pictures again-I did not know you had style 15 as well, how many cc's? I am not short either (5'2" lol......I don't see myself short- I walk with my high heels and the head is alwys high and I truly believe i am tall).....I thought my implant will get softer with time, it did get better thogh - I also had radiation so the results are not always that great. I guess it would have been easier if i had smaller breasts to begin with.
Thank you ladies for always being here to help out!!!:)
Patricia
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LOL Psal -- I'm 5'3" and always wear heels. Someone asked me once how I walked in such high heels and I explained it was easy because I am larger than life
So I know exactly what you mean.0 -
Lilac I love that one: "I am larger than life" , I might have to use it, people ask me the same thing.
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Lilah sorry for the typo above but lilac is good too
I went to all my chemo treatments with high heels, I never looked sick, I never wanted to be sixk. I always wore my nicest clothes and shoes and off I go. 0 -
Lilah, I am the tallest 5 foot 1/2 inch person you will ever meet:)
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